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HLB Horizons

HLB Horizons was started by International Institute of Nano and Molecular Medicine researchers.

HLB Horizons is a new company with a vision to create nothing short of a global renaissance in boron chemistry, by becoming the world’s largest and most profitable manufacturer of polyhedral boranes. Due to their increased availability and lower cost, the products to be developed by HLB Horizons have the potential to revolutionize the commercialization of borane and carborane chemistry in the semiconductor, energy, defense, nuclear, materials, nanomaterials and biomedical industries.

Currently, the process to create this chemical compound containing boron involves highly explosive gas and is extremely dangerous. Through their fundamental research projects at MU, Lee and Fred Hawthorne, director of MU’s International Institute for Nano and Molecular Medicine, have developed a new, safer and more environmentally friendly process to create the same compound. Lee and Hawthorne are joined in the company by Satish Jalisatgi.

“Without this investment, we might have been able to start the company, but we wouldn’t have been able to keep it here in the state of Missouri or even in the United States,” said Mark Lee, assistant professor of radiology and chemistry and president of HLB Horizons, LLC. “Through our research at Mizzou, we’ve developed a much safer and environmentally friendly way to create certain chemical compounds that contain boron, a key element. Boron can be used to improve electrical-conducting materials such as semiconductors and the rechargeable batteries found in hybrid vehicles. We’re hoping to start small-scale production of the chemical compound this year and continue to expand the company in Missouri for the next three to four years.”

Upon the successful achievement of milestones along the commercialization pathway, HLB Horizons will receive up to $400,000 from university EIP funding.